In focus: Transition, one step at a time

The energy transition is progressing more gradually than envisioned, and it is hard to see how the goals of 2050 will be met. We are reluctant to alter the way we live drastically, moving beyond current practices and embracing entirely new ones. As creatures of habit, we tend to favor incremental changes that solve problems through small, systematic steps, thereby promoting change over time. In this light, the problem with the energy transition is that we started too late. When it comes to tweaking existing industrial processes to curb carbon emissions, numerous steps are being taken.

Take for instance fossil energy. Oil and gas will be an important part of the energy mix for days to come, but sustainable solutions are introduced in the production process. A good example is the energy giant Equinor and its partners. They have decided to change their power solution at an offshore platform in the North Sea off Norway to cut emissions. This will be accomplished by replacing two gas turbines with heat recovery to produce electric power, reducing annual CO2 emissions by 95,000 tonnes.     

Ketil Rongved, Equinor’s vice president for FLX projects, remarked: “Heat recovery for electric power production has been used on new fields, both on the NCS and internationally. Now, for the first time, the solution is introduced on a mature field in production. This is possible due to the development of low-weight solutions.”

In line with this development, Baker Hughes and Marine Power Systems (MPS) have set up a partnership to work together on delivering integrated solutions for the electrification of oil and gas facilities and their supporting subsea systems recently.

Oil and gas will continue to play a role in meeting global energy demand for the immediate future, so those efficiency improvements are critical to reducing emissions, Baker Hughes and MPS believe, emphasizing that progress will depend on successful partnership and collaboration between energy producers, technology and service providers, energy buyers, policymakers, and the wider community.

The collaboration will include MPS’ PelaFlex offshore wind platform solution, which is said to be optimized to maximize energy generation and reduce lifecycle costs in oil and gas electrification applications. The developer states that the tension-legged platform design delivers a high degree of system stability, minimal seabed footprint, and zero tilt, reducing the wear and tear on the turbine and maximizing energy yields, which enables PelaFlex to access a wider range of wind turbine generator OEM products, a particularly important consideration for the smaller wind farms expected in oil and gas applications.

The same goes for the shipping industry. Although, there are various sustainable solutions for new builds, reducing emissions on the current fleet is more difficult. Enter Pyxis Ocean. This Kamsarmax vessel owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and chartered by Cargill, has been fitted with two WindWings, a pioneering technology developed by BAR Technologies and produced by Yara Marine Technologies. The installation of the wings took place at the COSCO shipyard in China and the Pyxis Ocean is now on the water, conducting her maiden voyage from China to Brazil.

WindWings is an advanced wind-assisted propulsion and route optimization system, and according to its developers, simulations demonstrate that it can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 30% on average trading patterns. This could be even higher if used in combination with alternative fuels.

The system features large solid wing sails that measure up to 37 meters in height, fitted to the deck of bulk cargo ships to harness the power of the wind. The foldable sails have been built from the same material as wind turbines as a means of making them more durable. BAT Technologies said that the system will enable the ship to save 3 tonnes of fuel per day.

Meanwhile, Denmark is taking steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by turning to carbon capture and storage (CCS) to step up its decarbonisation game with a new proposal for the next round of CCS tenders of almost DKK 27 billion (around $3.96 billion). As it reaffirms its position as a trailblazer and stronghold for renewable energy, the country hopes this will help pave the way for a carbon-free world.

The CO2 capture and storage industry is gaining ground in Denmark. With the first CCUS tender out of the way, three large-scale storage permits have been granted and the first international agreement on storage has been signed. The Danish Energy Agency granted the first-ever permit for a CO2 storage project in Denmark at the end of 2022 to INEOS and Wintershall Dea for the Greensand pilot injection project.

Come February 2023, the partners received the first full-scale CO2 storage permit for the Danish North Sea. When 8 March 2023 rolled in, INEOS and Wintershall Dea marked a major milestone and a world first with the first-ever injection of CO2 in the North Sea as part of Project Greensand.

However, Denmark put on hold the second tender round for the award of offshore CO2 storage licenses in the North Sea until the decision is made on whether the state participation share of future licenses should be set higher after the first tender round in the North Sea.